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Sunol grower Kathleen Elliot is among those willing to share knowledge. In the photo, she checks this year's olive crop.
Mentoring Program
Goal Is to Make New Ranchers,
Farmers Successful
By Carol Graham
12 JUNE 2013 I Independent Magazine
acWe have come to recognize that the type of support and assistance that
is the tnost zveltreceived is peer-to-peer (earning, or in this case,
farmer-to-farmer, whether it's cattle raising, grape growing or olive farming."
area residents another chance to do one of the
things they do best: support one another.
Anew program
spring offering
"Wewas
were launched
inspired by this
the realization
that
we often learn best from our peers," says Susan Ellsworth,
the Farm/Ranch Education Coordinator for the Alameda
County Resource Conservation District (ACRDC). "There
is a wealth of existing mentors in the Valley who are really
great, really knowledgeable and really generous, and who
are already sharing their expertise. We are eager to match
them in a program with beginning farmers and ranchers
who they may not have met or aren't already connected
to."
The East Bay Farmer and Rancher Mentorship Program
pairs beginning producers during the challenging first years
of production, with more experienced farmers and ranchers
in an effort to promote the success of the next generation
by providing a forum to share knowledge and skills.
"New farmers and ranchers face some big challenges:
finding affordable and appropriate land, securing start
up capitol and accessing markets," says Ellsworth. "This
program's objective is to provide educational resources,
technical assistance and access to experts to help build suc
cessful farm businesses and a vibrant agricultural commu
nity in the East Bay."
Participation in the program is free, with funding pro
vided by a USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Develop
ment Program Grant.
Since the mid-1800s, national programs have been
implemented to develop and offer education, training, out
reach and mentoring opportunities for beginning farmers,
defined by the Farm Bill as those who have 10 years or less
of experience operating a farm or ranch. Renewed interest
has arisen due to the rising average age of U.S. farmers
and the projected decrease in the number of farmers and
ranchers.
"This mentorship program is a way to supplement
some of the other work we're doing to support farmers
and ranchers," says Ellsworth, noting the field days and
workshops the ACRDC offers. "Typically when we hold
workshops, like our olive oil tasting or irrigation and water
management, we have a panel of practitioners. Those al
ways receive the best feedback."
The enthusiastic give-and-take of these panel discus
sions inspired the program's mentor-mentee format. "We
have come to recognize that the type of support and assis
tance that is the most well received is peer-to-peer learn
ing, or in this case, farmer-to-farmer, whether it's cattle
raising, grape growing or olive farming," says Ellsworth.
"Even though a lot of producers have developed their own
networks or support mechanisms, in many cases farming
and ranching can be very isolating."
The mentorship program begins with mentors and
mentees completing an online application that provides
information such as farming goals, production type (cattle,
vegetables, grapes, etc.), and geographic location to help
ensure the best match.
Once mentors and mentees are paired, they are free to
develop a unique working relationship that best suits their
needs including when, where and how often to meet. The
only requirements of the program are that they meet face
to face a minimum of three times over the course of the
year-long program, once at the mentor's farm and once at
the mentee's, and that they provide feedback about their
experience at the end of the program.
"It is my strong opinion that mentors also have some
thing to gain," says Ellsworth. "These newer folks have a
lot of ideas that the mentor may not have thought of."
The program serves the East Bay counties of Alameda,
Contra Costa and Santa Clara. The application process is
ongoing, with the first match-ups to occur in June.
"These farmers and ranchers, both the beginning
and the more experienced, are one of the segments of
our community that have the deepest connection to the
land," adds Ellsworth. "They are tremendous land stew
ards - preventing erosion, managing invasive weeds and
monitoring wildlife species. It's important for all of us to
remember that they're doing two things simultaneously:
fueling the economy and providing land stewardship on
top of that.
"This program provides education, technical assistance
and resource matching. Our intent is to help build suc
cessful farm businesses by supporting and enhancing the
vibrancy of our local food economy."
For more information, visit www.acrdc.org.
JUNE 2013 | Independent Magazine 13
M
ission San Jose was
founded in June of
1797, the 14th of 21
missions established to
secure Spain's claim to
the land.
Twenty five years later, when
Mexico succeeded Spain in having
jurisdiction over Alta California, the
former mission lands were secularized
and broken up into large ranchos.
Rancho San Ramon, Rancho Santa
Rita and Rancho Las Positas were
established as the result of land grants
from Mexico to citizens.
Large herds of cattle grazed on wild
oats and native grasses on the vast,
unfenced ranchos that stretched across
the Valley.
"We love wild places," proclaimed
the Pacific Rural Handbook, "where
the mossy trees bend over the child
like waters and the sunlight trembles
through the swaying leaves to kiss
the rosy Trilliums; we believe in bits
of woodland, and belts of forest, and
wind-breaks that wind along the
horizon."
And so, the Valley began its
ranching heritage.
Following the free-wheeling
ranching of the 1800s and the
explosive growth of the 1900s,
ranchers this century are focused on
being excellent land stewards and
conservationists.
"Private rangeland ownership
and ranching is recognized as crucial
to sustain the natural resources
that also produce food," says Karen
Sweet, owner of Sweet Ranch in the
east Livermore hills. "Many of our
local ranches produce food on land
that cannot be farmed. The public
rangelands depend on local ranchers
to manage the grasslands. Without a
viable ranching industry, the public
landlords would have to utilize
mowing and fire to manage hazards
and invasive weeds."
Rangelands are vast natural
landscapes in the form of grasslands,
shrublands, woodlands and wetlands.
They are distinguished from pasture
lands in that they primarily grow
native vegetation rather than plants
established by humans. They are
typically managed with practices such
as controlled livestock grazing rather
than the more intensive agricultural
practices of seeding, irrigation and
use of fertilizers.
"Livestock grazing on our
rangelands is a very natural way
to produce healthy foods and
other products," says Paul Banke
of Livermore's WP Cattle Co. "Our
ranchlands are home to a vast
variety of plants, animals and insects
comprising a natural ecosystem that
we work to maintain. Keeping these
rangelands protected from urban
development and suburban recreation
becomes more important as population
increases."
Banke said that one of the greatest
blessings was the opportunity to
raise children on the ranch. "The
satisfaction they get when helping
out at the round ups and gatherings
is very heart-warming. They plan to
stay as connected as possible to our
ranching business, and it is my hope
that they will continue to be part of
ranch operations in 2023."
He pointed out that the continuing
loss of the infrastructure necessary
to transport, process, and market
our livestock has been one of the
continuing obstacles to maintaining
a sustainable ranching business.
The variation of weather patterns
(the changing climate), the spread of
non-native and/or invasive species
(both plant and animal) threaten the
productive capacity and thus the
sustainability of the land. Finally
keeping enough ranch and farm land
in private ownership so that there
remains a population of people with
the history, knowledge, and desire to
continue operating local, family based
farms and ranches in the Tri-Valley is
problematic as more and more ranch
lands are purchased by public agencies
for recreation, and/or environmental
mitigation.
"Many of the ranches in the TriValley were began by our grandparents
of great grandparents who emigrated
to America, and settled in the area and
began farming and ranching. A few
ranch on the land originally purchased
by ancestors, other ranch operations
have moved to different properties
as a result of urbanization, and other
competing land uses.
"Succeeding generations have
maintained the culture and traditions
handed down from generation to
generation. The traditional style and
use of horses and livestock of the
Spanish Vaqueros is still evident in the
way local ranch horses are trained and
used," adds Banke.
He states, "The Livermore
Rodeo continues as the symbol and
celebration of the skills used to
manage and care for the livestock that
roam the steep hillsides surrounding
the Valley."
In 2005, a group of ranchers,
environmentalists, and resource
professionals from state and federal
agencies drafted the California
Rangeland Resolution with a goal of
collaboratively working together to
protect and enhance the rangeland
landscape in ways that include
keeping common species common;
working to recover imperiled species
and enhancing habitats; increasing
private, state and federal funding
and other assistance to expand
the ranching community's land
stewardship practices; and educating
the public about the benefits of
grazing and ranching in these
rangelands.
The resolution is signed by over
95 entities, with new signatories
signing on a regular basis. Together
these signatories form the California
Rangeland Conservation Coalition.
Sunol rancher Kathleen Elliot
similarly works to protect and enhance
the natural environment. "All of our
trees are dryland farmed, meaning we
provide no irrigation," says the owner
of Hillcrest Ranch, a six and a half
acre parcel that contains 130 year old
olive trees. "Not only is this good for
the environment, but it gives our oils
a rich, pungent, fresh flavor."
On the fourth Saturday of each
month, visitors are invited to sample
the result for themselves. "While the
Bay Area has experienced drastic
changes throughout the past century,
Hillcrest Ranch has remained largely
unhindered. Hike, bike or ride horses
up the hill for a lovely picnic with
olive oil tasting and history. Visitors
can view the natural wildlife and wild
flowers living amongst the rolling hills
of olive groves and oak savannas."
Perhaps that is the greatest gift
ranchers today are giving to the
community: the sacred preservation of
that which is not manmade.
JUNE 2013 | Independent Magazine 15